The Desire to Serve

Since we've started attending Hope City, our family has become very excited about serving others. Jesus was a servant so we should be too! I love seeing my boys so eager to be a blessing to someone else! I've also come to realize that when we desire to serve, God will provide opportunities!

Just in the past week we have been given several chances to show the love of Jesus to those around us! The other day we ate lunch at McDonald's before running errands. We got the boys one of those boxes of 20 chicken nuggets. They normally eat almost all of them (three boys eat a lot!!!) but for some reason, that day, they barely ate any. So, we left McDonald's with a box of at least 14 chicken nuggets. We got about a mile down the road and we saw a man with a sign that said, "Just plain hungry." We immediately found that box of nuggets in the floorboard of our van and handed them to him. He was so grateful. He pulled out a nugget and stuck the entire thing in his mouth. There was no doubt that he needed something to eat and God allowed us to provide that for him! 

It was so good for my little guys to see that gentleman eating what we gave them. They were so touched by it. And seriously, it sparked a little fire within them. They have wanted to give things away and show to love to folks in all sorts of ways. Our neighbor's walkway is in the shade so it took forever for the ice to melt. Dylan and Evan saw her outside trying to break the ice up and they rushed over, all on their own, and asked to help her. She sort of said no, but they insisted. My heart was so full of joy and pride. They were using bats and shovels to break up the ice and then carry it away. No one told them to do that. They just wanted to show kindness to her because Jesus loves her and we should too!

There have been many other little ways that we have been able to serve lately and I look forward to many more. When you hear people say that the giver is often more blessed than the recipient is....there is a lot of truth to that!! I am grateful today for the ability to be a blessing to other people. I am also thankful for the desire to serve. This doesn't usually come naturally, especially for kids. Being used by God is an amazing thing! I am grateful that my family is being given that opportunity!